I love Katherine Center! I will confess it took me a bit to get into this newest book, but she handles her characters so well. You’re just right in the story with them. I will say the plot in this one did take me out of the story a bit, but still an enjoyable read.

As a whole, I enjoyed this. Katie is a videographer in DTX (shoutout) who gets sent to Key West to shoot a promotional video for the US Coast Guard - specifically, Hutch, who is a mega-hot super perfect rescue diver. While there, Katie finds self-love, the love of a found family, and....you guessed it....romantic love. Overall a cute, witty, and heartwarming story with a lot of fun and wacky adventures that bring some unrealistic scenarios to an otherwise mildly relatable story.

For the details: One of the main topics in this story was Katie and her view of herself and relationship with her body while dealing with body dysmorphia. It's quite prevalent, and while it is an important conversation, parts of it had me feeling a little uncomfortable with the execution. It sometimes felt a little flippant for the weight of it, and at first had me thinking she was going to find her self worth through a man - which I wasn't a fan of. It ultimately WASN'T that, but I do think it's riding very close to that line. We see how healing is cyclical, but at the same time Katie's healing journey did seem to come in fast waves (no pun intended) at times that made it sound like it was just that easy to get over something so deep. Overall, probably not the worst portrayal of body dysmorphia/self-love, but definitely not the best.

Some things I really liked: Rue and The Gals. Obviously. Rue brings the light-hearted comedic relief energy in such a fun, beachy setting that it makes me wish I could just move to Florida and hang with the local women in their 60s. Hutch and Katie were a bit insta-love, but cute (and it's a relatively short book) so l'll let it slide. I loved the overall vibes and setting of this story, and if it were a song it's definitely "S|**!" by Taylor Swift: from the vibrant colors, to the beachy feel, to the "in a world of boys he's a gentleman". Also really appreciated that this wasn't smutty!! I'm definitely not a smut hater, but lately I've been finding myself wanting less of it and so this not having any explicit scenes was actually a breath of fresh air for me. Sometimes I just want and easy romance without all the dirty details and this delivered that aspect perfectly to me. I could still feel the tension and that was just enough for me.
I would say proceed with caution and without high expections, but it's a fun story to breeze through for the summer season especially if you're by a pool or with a drink in hand!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital
ARC! All thoughts are my own.

I might be the minority here, but I was not impressed by this book. I have heard wonderful things about this author, which is why I was interested in reading this book. It felt like everything was lacking for me, such as the characters and the storyline.

This book is about a love- hate relationship between a guy named Hutch and a woman named Katie. Katie obtains a new job to profile Hutch; who is a coach guard rescue swimmer. Katie’s not that great at swimming and heavily struggles with her body image. Hutch’s Aunt ends up taking them (along with Cole who told her about this job) to a cottage where she gets to learn to swim. The rest of the story gets boring and goes on and on about how she does not like her body image. I usually love these kinds love hate romance books, but this was just not a vibe for me at all. I really tried to get into it and I did finish the book, but it ended up being a disappointment for me. I noticed that there are a lot of positive reviews on this book, so you may want to read it and give it a try.

The release date for The Love Haters book, by Katherine Center is set to be released on May 20, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Love Haters was yet another 5 star read for me by Katherine Center. I absolutely LOVED the unique journey we go on as Katie and Hutch fall in love. There were so so many parts of this book where I was laughing out loud and could not stop.

*Spoilers!*

The SWET test scene?! "There are so many words you could have used besides diaper." Had me cracking up. The banter between Katie and Hutch had me hooked and I was locked in, I could not stop. I read this in one sitting.

She is his hot fudge sundae and I just thought that was the sweetest thing. I love the relationship that they develop on a deeper level. A friendship above a romantic love to start really. They have chemistry, that much is clear, but they truly get to know each other and they SEE each other more than anyone else. I just cannot get over the fact that he noticed her pie eye almost immediately. SWOON.

Also, why am I suddenly very interested in the coast guard? I am not saying that I want to be stranded in the ocean on a shipwreck to be rescued, but if Hutch was my rescue swimmer, then I wouldn't be too mad about it.

The side character development was done really well in The Love Haters too. There are the characters you LOVE, like Rue, Ginger, Beanie. And then the villains (Cole, cough cough).

This book does have body image, disordered eating and parent loss triggers. I highly recommend reading the Author's Note for some insight into the characters and the background for the story, it really helps you establish the why behind this book.

Definitely give this book a go if you are looking to have some swoon worthy moments and a lot of laughs.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

4.0 ⭐️

The Love Haters was a story about self acceptance with a side of romance. Everyone has been there and needed someone to show us how everyone else sees us.

I felt that first kiss in my bones. Then I wanted to punch Cole in the face. I hated the brothers character so much, however The Gals are #goals. I’m really glad Hutch was always himself with Katie and we didn’t have to pry that out of him.

I think I have some secondhand trauma from the last 25% of the book. I could picture it so well and it made me nauseous. Well done KC!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful book early.

Another fun one from Katherine Center (with occasional heavy moments) I liked the character interactions and detailed backgrounds that I know to expect from Center at this point. This is my third book by her and it did not disappoint. Sweet characters that you want to root for and a happy ending, can’t ask for much more.

Katie has had quite a hand dealt to her in the last year or so. She’s had a wild and hurtful breakup with some intense fallout that leads to body image issues. She’s tasked to make a promotional video of a member of the US coast guard, Hutch. He’s all business and pretty closed off. But through swimming lessons, days of filming, and heart to heart talks, we know they’re falling for each other.

Katherine Center excels at wit and banter, especially when it comes to inner monologues. It can be laugh out loud funny at times! It’s probably one of my favorite writing traits of hers and what keeps me coming back.

She always nails it with immersive settings and side characters as well. Key West was such a fun place to visit! Pacing was pretty good as well.

Admittedly, the self-help portions could be a little distracting. The first couple mentions of it were good but then it felt like a little too much as we went on. There was a preachy element that was a bit intrusive.

I was also hoping the romance would blossom some more. It felt slightly flat and unfinished. But it was still sweet and cute.

I would consider this a clean, spice free romance- There are a couple kisses, and a veiled reference to more intimate activities. Some language.

This a super simple, gentle, and tame love story. Easy to recommend as a chick lit/clean romance/women’s fiction. A quick, palette cleansing read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

I liked this book because Key West has a special place in my heart for many reasons. All of Katherine Centers books are great. I did lose some interest about halfway through the book just a little bit but it ended in a great note.

I’ve read every one of Katherine Center’s books, and they just keep getting better! I loved the FMC Kate. She was very relatable, and I was inspired by walking with her through her journey to self-love.

Katherine Center does it again! Katherine’s engaging dialogue, exploration of characters, and high stakes settings always strike a beautiful balance for me. Bringing together two MCs with complicated histories is always messy, but getting them safely to a HEA through even more mess is an art and it doesn’t get much messier than disordered eating, childhood loss of parents, and a category 4 hurricane. Beautifully handled and beautifully written! Katherine Center proves once again why she’s an auto-buy author for me!

3 stars. It wasn’t my favorite book by Katherine Center. I enjoyed the Rom-commers and the Bodyguard more. Lots of focus on body issues and lying and some parts of the book just seemed unrealistic. With that being said, it was a very quick and easy read. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was a truly enjoyable read. The writing flows effortlessly, drawing you into the story from the very beginning. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and their experiences feel authentic and heartfelt. The plot unfolds at a steady pace, with moments of reflection that keep you engaged without feeling rushed.

3.75/4 ⭐

Very enjoyable read once again by Katherine Center with the main characters of video producer Katie and humble hero Hutch. This story takes place in sunny Key West with Katie on a career saving project involving the swoon worthy rescue swimmer Hutch along with his quirky, loveable aunt Rue. This is a great kick off to spring/summer reads!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. It was a real treat to read and review.

It took me a little bit to get into, but around the 60% mark I fell in love with some of the characters. I wish the book showed more of Katie working on herself. It really wasn't until the event towards the end of the book she took anything serious about it. Hutch, I wish he would of stood up to his brother more. I get the events from their past stopped him from doing so, but he was pushed around too much for me. I felt like the ending happened way too quickly. You get the big event, and a quick update on the characters, and it was over. George Bailey was obviously my favorite part about the story. It was a quick read, I just wish there was more romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Katherine Center’s The Love Haters is a witty, feel-good rom-com with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and an underlying message about self-discovery. The story follows Katie Vaughn, a video producer on the verge of unemployment, who takes a career-defining assignment: profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. There’s just one problem, Katie can’t swim. Oh, and Hutch just so happens to be the estranged brother of her coworker, Cole, making things extra complicated. What follows is a whirlwind of deception (of the can’t-swim variety), tropical misadventures, and a slow-burning attraction that forces Katie to face both her fears and her past.

What I Loved:
Katie’s inner monologue is pure gold. Genuinely hilarious and full of personality, her voice carries the book in the best way. The pacing was spot-on, and the story was such an easy, engaging read that I tore through it in about six hours. The setting, sun-soaked Key West, felt vibrant, and the premise had a lot of potential. This is the kind of book that’s perfect for a plane ride or a lazy beach day, something fun to breeze through while soaking up the sun.

What Didn’t Quite Work for Me:
Katie’s job as a video camera operator was a great character detail, but it was barely explored. Having worked in TV myself, in almost the exact same role, I was excited to see that representation. Unfortunately, it felt like an afterthought, mostly just a mention of her “shooting some b-roll” here and there. Being a female camera operator in a male-dominated industry is a big deal, and there was so much potential to explore the creativity and technical aspects of filmmaking. Instead, the focus was almost entirely on Hutch’s career, which was a bit of a letdown.

And speaking of Hutch, while the book is framed as a romance, it felt more like a story about Katie falling in love with herself. Hutch, despite being “scientifically good-looking,” didn’t have much of a personality beyond broody and hot. Their chemistry didn’t quite sizzle for me, and his character lacked the depth that would have made the romance feel more compelling. If you go in expecting a swoon-worthy love story, you might be a little disappointed.

Final Thoughts:
The Love Haters is an enjoyable, fast-paced read with sharp humor and an empowering message about self-growth. But as a romance? It left me a little hungry for more. Like a McDonald’s 20-pack of nuggets, fun in the moment, but not entirely satisfying.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5 stars
🌶️ 0.5 hot pepper (barely a sizzle)

Prior to receiving the eARC from NetGalley, I have been the biggest fan of Katherine Center's books. All of her books have been 4-5 stars.

Enter....The Love Haters and it could not be more appropriately titled. I think the book was going for the feel-good vibe, but what I got instead was a mess. This book was overstuffed with heavy topics, and I barely even made it through the bar scene. It took a nosedive when the brother arrived in Key West, but by the time it was over, I thought the whole book felt silly. I truly wish I had been able to connect to the characters but the whole thing fell flat.

Debated between 2-3 stars, going with 3 because I really did like some of the topics: body image, online bullying and I loved the dog!
The setting was also perfect!
I'm certain this book will be a success and hit the mark with a large group.

This book is such a fun, cute, and easy read. It’s a charming story about love, loss, friendship, and learning to love yourself. I loved the well-rounded characters; Katie is so easy to relate to and is a good example of self-love, and Hutch is so easy to love and such a sweetheart. This book has lots of good laugh-out-loud moments. I loved the humor; it’s such a good rom-com. I appreciated how clean this book is (no spice) while still giving you lots of chemistry and romance. Katherine Center always delivers a feel-good, enjoyable summer read. If you like a sweet romance with funny moments, then this is the book for you, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Katherine Center is one of the few authors that is a must read for me when she has a new book coming out. The Love Haters is no exception, combining romance, body positivity, laughs and tears all in the same story. On the spice scale, the book is about as clean as it can get, so if you're looking for something that purely spicy, you should probably look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a book that's more than steamy scenes this has so much going for it. In the book, the reader never really knows protagonist Katie's dress size, although at one point it's almost zero. I think this is actually valuable because it allows the reader to focus on the fact that Katie is dealing with body dysmorphia that started with her stepmother telling her to "suck it in" and has been exacerbated by online trolls commenting on her appearance after she was photographed at a celebrity event with her now ex-fiancée. Her obsession with her size and appearance consumes her life for well over a year, and it's primarily with the help of her cousin Beanie that she's able to start normalizing some. Some. After she agrees to do a video assignment her boss doesn't want to do because it involves his older, more perfect brother, some of those fears resurface again. Because Katie is in Key West, the land of bright colors and swimming suits, both of which she has a strong aversion to. Not to mention being seen in them by Hutch, the perfect (and perfectly attractive) older brother. It's hard for Katie not to get sucked in though, because Hutch and Cole's Aunt Rue quickly takes her under her colorful wing, and Hutch turns out to be an amazing human being, which is not the same as being perfect. Amidst the craziness of Rue and her friends, and Hutch and his Great Dane George Bailey, Katie is tasked with filming a video to promote Hutch's job as rescue swimmer while being threatened with the loss of her job by a cost-cutting boss if she doesn't do a second video of Hutch that's part of her side hustle. And while Katie and Hutch are crushing on each other, Cole shows up with the boss in tow and a secret agenda that throws everything into chaos. And that's before the hurricane hits. I probably would love a little more romance between the main characters, but I got a full dose of funny and heart wrenching moments that made this another fantastic story. Props to Center for exploring body positivity in a way that doesn't focus on size, because most women battle it at some point no matter what size they are, and for showing that the internet and social media are a dangerous part of it. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have read all of Katherine Center's books and they always leave me feeling so content and happy!! This one did as well. She has a knack for catering to us loyal fans and therefore we keep coming back for more!

I loved the main couple in this book. It was easy to root for them. I'm a big fan of Katherine Center's other books, and this one is also a great story! I love that Center choose to include a female protagonist struggling with body image. Unfortunately, it didn't always land for me.